An improvisational rapper with a freestyle approach, Young Scooter (Kenneth Edward Bailey) came to prominence on the mixtape circuit, frequently collaborating with major-label artists while resisting signing with one himself.

Born in Walterboro, South Carolina, Scooter was later raised in Atlanta, where he became childhood friends with another future rapper, in this case, the rapper named Future. Scooter began releasing his own mixtapes in 2011, then in 2012, his mixtapes began to feature major-label artists, including Future, Gucci Mane, and Waka Flocka Flame. The single "Columbia," also issued in 2012, became his biggest track to that point. His 2013 mixtape Street Lottery was another breakthrough, landing on numerous year-end lists while downloads counted into the hundreds of thousands. By the end of 2016, Scooter had released well over a dozen tapes -- mostly through his Black Migo Gang label -- and had appeared on well over twice as many tracks headlined by the likes of Gucci, E-40, and Young Thug. Jugg King, highlighted by the Future collaboration "Can't Play Around," followed in 2017. Finally, in early 2018, Scooter issued his first proper album, Trippple Cross, featuring Future and Young Thug, among others. Later that year, he collaborated with Yung Bans and Gunna on the single "New Hunnids." ~ David Jeffries